Hand-held, hand-operated power syringe and methods

ABSTRACT

A hand-held syringe includes a handle configured for suspending and using the syringe with a single hand. The handle includes pivotally connected first and second members. The members of the handle may be pivotally connected at intermediate positions along the lengths thereof or at or near ends thereof. The first member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe barrel, while the second member is associated with, and may be pivotally connected to, a syringe plunger. The syringe may be configured for a single-use (i.e., it may be disposable). Applications of use and methods of using a hand-held syringe are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.09/864,967, filed May 24, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,084, issued May9, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for facilitatingthe movement of a plunger of a syringe through a barrel of the syringeand, more particularly, to hand-held, hand operated apparatus thatfacilitate the movement of a plunger through a syringe barrel. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to hand-held apparatus withscissor grip type leveraged triggering systems that force a plunger of asyringe through the length of the barrel of the syringe.

2. Background of Related Art

Apparatus that facilitate the ejection of fluids from syringes are wellknown. Such apparatus are often referred to as “fluid delivery devices”or “power syringes.”

Conventionally, fluid delivery devices have been used to inject liquids,such as contrasting media (e.g., dyes, carbon dioxide, etc.) andmedicines into patients. With many fluid delivery devices, the rate atwhich a fluid is injected into a patient's body may be controlled. Whilesome of these devices are automated, others may be manually operated.

Due to the increase in delivery force provided by fluid deliverydevices, such devices are particularly useful for injecting highviscosity fluids, which would otherwise be difficult, if not impossible,to inject by forcing one's thumb against the plunger of a conventionalhand-held syringe.

Some hand-held power syringes, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,330,074, issued to Wirsig et al. (hereinafter “the '074 Patent”),include ratcheting type mechanisms to assist a user in applying force toa plunger of the syringe. Ratcheting mechanisms are, however, oftencomplex and, consequently, add to the manufacturing costs of suchhand-held power syringes.

Other hand-held fluid delivery devices include handles with a fixedmember and a movable member associated therewith. In one example of sucha syringe, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,059,759, issued to Lampropouloset al. (hereinafter “the '759 Patent”), the movable member may beslidingly secured to the fixed member. A plunger is forced into asyringe barrel as a user squeezes the handle members toward one another.Nonetheless, such a syringe only assists the user in forcing the plungerinto the syringe barrel by transferring the location where force must beapplied and increasing the area of a member to which force must beapplied. Alternatively, the ends of the movable member and the fixedmember of the handle may be pivotally secured to one another, asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,024,728, issued to Schulz (hereinafter “the'728 Patent”). In either event, an upper end of the movable membereither directly or indirectly engages a plunger of the syringe. Uponsqueezing the two members of the handle, the movable member moves towardthe fixed member and forces the plunger into the barrel of the syringe.Thus, the handle of such a syringe allows the force provided by a handsqueeze to be applied to the plunger of the syringe rather than thelesser amount of force that would otherwise be provided by use of athumb to force the plunger into the syringe. Nonetheless, these fluiddelivery devices may be difficult to use when the injection of highviscosity fluids is required, which may cause physical or mentaldiscomfort to a patient into whom the fluid is being injected.

Some fluid delivery devices provide leverage to assist a user in forcinga plunger into or out of a syringe barrel. Examples of such devices areprovided in U.S. Pat. No. 6,030,368, issued to Anwar et al. (hereinafter“the '368 Patent”) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,737,151, issued to Clement et al.(hereinafter “the '151 Patent”). The devices of the '368 and '151Patents each include three pivot points to provide the desired amount ofleverage: a first pivot point connecting a handle member to a plunger; asecond pivot point connecting the handle member to a base member; and athird pivot point connecting the base member to a syringe barrel. Whilethe base members of these devices are configured to be supported upon atable top or other flat surface, the generally straight handle membersof these devices are configured to receive a downward force by a user,which is transferred to the plunger. As a user need only grip and movethe handle member of such a device to move the plunger, the user canapply more force to the handle than that provided by a squeeze of thehand. Nonetheless, due to the manner in which the increased amount offorce is applied, it is difficult for a user to make fine adjustmentswhen injecting fluid into a body or extracting fluid therefrom.

Accordingly, there is a need for a fluid delivery apparatus thatconverts a small amount of controllable force, such as that provided bya squeeze of a hand, to a syringe plunger to facilitate movement of theplunger through a syringe barrel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A fluid delivery apparatus incorporating teachings of the presentinvention is a hand-held type power syringe which includes a handle thatis leveraged in such a manner as to apply an increased amount ofpressure to the plunger of the syringe. The fluid delivery apparatus ofthe present invention may also include a syringe barrel with a fluidreceptacle formed therethrough, as well as a plunger that inserts into alarge end of the receptacle and that may be moved through at least aportion of the length of the receptacle. Fluid delivery apparatusaccording to the present invention may be configured such that thebarrel and plunger of a syringe move simultaneously.

In one aspect, the present invention includes fluid delivery apparatuswith a handle that includes pivotally connected members, one of which issecured in relation to a barrel of a syringe, the other of which issecured in relation to a plunger of the syringe. The members of thehandle are configured and oriented relative to one another in such a wayas to facilitate manipulation and use of the fluid delivery apparatuswith one hand. A first member may be rigidly, flexibly, or pivotallyassociated with the syringe barrel, while the second member may berigidly, flexibly, or pivotally associated with the syringe plunger.

In an example of an embodiment of a handle that includes three pivotpoints, the handle may resemble a scissors and includes two members, afirst of which is configured to be held by the fingers of an individualand the second of which is configured to be held by the individual'sthumb or positioned against the palm of the individual. The members ofthe handle are oriented so as to cross one another at the pivot pointtherebetween. One or both of the first and second handle members mayenable the user to grip both members with one hand while having aconfiguration (e.g., a shape, bend, etc.) that provides a user with amechanical advantage while maximizing the amount of leverage provided asthe handle members are forced toward one another. The two members of thehandle are pivotally connected at intermediate, or somewhat central,locations along the lengths thereof. When the first and second membersof the handle are moved toward or away from one another, the first pivotpoint may remain in a substantially fixed position along the lengths ofboth the first and second members. Alternatively, the first pivot pointmay move in an elongate path relative to one or both of the first andsecond members of the handle as the positions of the first and secondmembers are changed relative to one another. By way of example only, thefirst pivot point may move either eccentrically or in a linear fashionrelative to one of the handle members as the positions of the memberschange while remaining substantially stationary relative to the otherhandle member.

In another embodiment, in which handles are also arranged to facilitateholding and use of the fluid delivery apparatus with a single hand, thehandles may be pivotally connected to one another at or near the endsthereof. A forward (finger) handle is associated with a barrel of asyringe, which may be secured to that handle or allowed to slidetherethrough, while a rearward (thumb) handle captures the end of aplunger of the syringe. One or both of these relationships, or“connection points,” between the handles and the members of a plungermay include a pivot or include sufficient tolerance to accommodatearcuate movement of the connection points relative to one another as thehandles are moved together or apart from each other.

In both reusable and single-use variations of a fluid delivery apparatusof the present invention, the aforementioned elements may be part of asingle, integral syringe, or the handles may be configured forassociation with a separate, disposable syringe.

As an example of the use of a fluid delivery apparatus incorporatingteachings of the present invention, a fluid to be injected into apatient may be drawn into the receptacle of the syringe barrel by movingthe first and second members away from one another. Air may then beremoved from a catheter or needle (e.g., a hypodermic needle or biopsyneedle) that communicates with an end of the receptacle by squeezing thefirst and second members of the handle toward one another and theconsequent movement of the plunger partially into the receptacle of thesyringe barrel. If a catheter is coupled to the syringe, the cathetermay be introduced into the patient or coupled with a catheter that hasalready been introduced into the patient. The fluid may then be injectedinto the patient through the needle or one or more catheters by furthersqueezing of the first and second handle members, which results in theplunger being moved further into the receptacle of the syringe barreland displacement of fluid located in the receptacle and the catheter.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration ofthe ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appendedclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of fluiddelivery apparatus incorporating teachings of the present invention andfeatures thereof:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a power syringe incorporating teachings of thepresent invention, including a syringe barrel, a plunger that islongitudinally movable within a receptacle of the syringe barrel, and ascissor-grip handle that includes two members with three pivotalconnection points, a first between a first member of the handle and thesyringe barrel, a second between the second member of the handle and theplunger, and a third between the two handle members;

FIGS. 1A-1C are cross-sections taken along lines 1A-1A, 1B-1B, and1C-1C, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 1D illustrates a variation on the manner in which a member of ahandle of the syringe of FIG. 1 may be connected to the barrel of thatsyringe;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional representation of the syringe barrel of thepower syringe of FIG. 1, illustrating the syringe barrel in an assembledrelationship with a catheter;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional representation of a variation of the syringebarrel illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, which includes an aspiration portthat may communicate with a source or reservoir for introducing fluidinto the syringe barrel upon appropriate movement of the plunger toincrease the available volume within the syringe barrel;

FIG. 4 is a side view that depicts a variation of the handle of FIG. 1,with one of the first and second members including an arcuate slotthrough which a movable connection member on the other of the twomembers moves when the handle members are moved relative to one another;

FIG. 5 is a side view that depicts another variation of the handle ofFIG. 1, wherein one of the first and second handle members includes apartial gear member and the other of the first and second handle membersincludes an elongated slot with teeth along an edge thereof forreceiving teeth of the partial gear member upon movement of the twohandle members relative to one another;

FIG. 6A depicts a power syringe with a fixed connection between a barreland its corresponding handle;

FIG. 6B illustrates a power syringe with a fixed connection between aplunger and its corresponding handle;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a power syringeincorporating teachings of the present invention, wherein a disposablesyringe barrel and plunger may be assembled and used with a reusableinjection/aspiration handle;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show alternative embodiments of syringes that incorporateteachings of the present invention; and

FIGS. 10-10B are schematic representations of use of a power syringeincorporating teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a fluid deliveryapparatus, or power syringe 10, incorporating teachings of the presentinvention. Power syringe 10 includes a barrel 20, a plunger 30associated with barrel 20, and a scissor-grip handle 40 which causesplunger 30 to move longitudinally relative to barrel 20. One or both ofbarrel 20 and plunger 30 may be removable from handle 40 to facilitatethe replacement of these elements and the reuse of handle 40.

Barrel 20 of power syringe 10 is an elongate member with a hollowinterior extending through the length thereof. Along the majority of itslength, barrel 20 is substantially uniform in both cross-sectional shapeand cross-sectional dimensions. The region of barrel 20 having suchsubstantial cross-sectional uniformity is referred to herein as body 22.As depicted, body 22 extends from a proximal end 21 p of barrel 20 to atapered section or region 24 thereof. A syringe tip 25 is located on theopposite side of tapered section 24, at the distal end 21 d of barrel20.

As shown in FIGS. 1-1C, the distances across opposed points of variouscross-sections taken transverse to longitudinal axis A_(B) of barrel 20on the outer surface of barrel 20 or the outer diameter of barrel 20 arecollectively referred to herein as OD20. The corresponding distancesacross opposed points of various cross-sections taken transverse tolongitudinal axis A_(B) on the inner surface of barrel 20 or the innerdiameter of barrel 20 are collectively referred to herein as ID20.

As is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1A, both OD20A and ID20A remainsubstantially the same along the substantial length of a body 22 ofbarrel 20. At tapered region 24, OD20 and ID20, which are respectivelydepicted at one location along the length of tapered region 24 as OD20Band ID20B, gradually (either linearly or along a curve) decrease fromthe sizes of OD20A and ID20A of body 22 to the much smaller sizes OD20Cand ID20C of syringe tip 25. At syringe tip 25, the sizes of OD20C andID20C are again substantially constant.

It is preferred that the taper of tapered region 24 occur at an angle ofabout 15° to longitudinal axis A_(B) of barrel 20. Other taper anglesare, however, also within the scope of the present invention.

Turning now to FIG. 2, within body 22 and tapered region 24 of barrel20, the hollow interior thereof forms a receptacle 23. The volume ofreceptacle 23 is preferably suitable for the desired use of powersyringe 10 (FIG. 1). For example, in applications where only smallvolumes of materials will be injected or aspirated with power syringe10, barrel 20 may include a receptacle 23 with a relative small volume(e.g., 5 cubic centimeters (“cc”), 10 cc, etc.). When power syringe 10is to be used to inject or aspirate larger volumes of materials, thevolume of receptacle 23 may also be larger (e.g., 20 cc, 30 cc, 60 cc,etc.). Alternatively, receptacle 23 of barrel 20 may have other standardsyringe volumes or a volume that is tailored to a specific use for powersyringe 10.

The hollow interior of syringe tip 25 is referred to herein as a lumen26. Lumen 26 may have a diameter of as small as about 1 mm (0.40 inch)or smaller. Of course, syringe tips 25 with different sizes of lumens 26are within the scope of the present invention, as the size of a lumen 26depends at least partially upon the gauge of a needle or the lumen sizeof a catheter to be coupled with syringe tip 25.

In addition, in order to facilitate the coupling of a needle or catheterwith syringe tip 25, syringe tip 25 includes a coupling member 27 at ornear the distal end 21 d of barrel 20. Although FIG. 1 depicts couplingmember 27 as including a cylindrically shaped recess that extendspartially into syringe tip 25, coupling members of other configurations,including, without limitation, threaded or nonthreaded coupling membersthat facilitate the coupling of a needle, catheter, or other member toan outer surface of syringe tip 25, are also within the scope of thepresent invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a variation of barrel 20′ may include anaspiration port 80 proximate syringe tip 25. Aspiration port 80facilitates the introduction of a fluid, such as a saline solution,medicine, anesthetic, indicator solution (e.g., dye, radioactivesolution, radiopaque solution or x-ray contrast media, etc.), otherchemical compound, or the like from an external source into receptacle23 of barrel 20. Aspiration port 80 is depicted as comprising acylindrical protrusion 81, which is configured to have a length oftubing coupled thereto, and a lumen 82 that extends through protrusion81 and communicates with lumen 26 of syringe tip 25. In addition,aspiration port 80 may include a valve 83, such as a stop cock typevalve, which opens and closes lumen 82. Of course, other configurationsof aspiration ports are also within the scope of the present invention.

Referring again to FIG. 1, barrel 20 also includes a handle connectionelement 28. As depicted, handle connection element 28 extends from body22 at proximal end 21 p of barrel 20 and includes an aperture formedtherethrough. The aperture is sized and configured to receive a hingeelement 70 and, thus, to facilitate the connection of a member of handle40 to barrel 20.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1D, a handle connection element 28″ mayinclude features on opposite sides of barrel 20. Such a connection pointarrangement places the pivotal points that are established by connectionelements 59 and 69″ that are associated with handle 40 members 50 and60, respectively, substantially in-line with axes A_(B) of barrel 20 andA_(P) of plunger 30.

While FIG. 1 depicts barrel 20, receptacle 23, and lumen 26 as havingsubstantially cylindrical shapes with circular cross-sections takentransverse to a longitudinal axis A_(B) of barrel 20, syringe barrelswith any other suitable cross-sectional shapes (e.g., ovals, ellipses,polygons, etc.) are also within the scope of the present invention.

With continued reference to FIG. 1, plunger 30 is an elongate memberwith dimensions that permit plunger 30 to be inserted into receptacle 23of barrel 20 through proximal end 21 p thereof. Plunger 30 includes abody 32 and a head 34 at the distal end 31 d of body 32. The proximalend 31 p of body 32 and, thus, of plunger 30 is configured to have forceapplied thereto to facilitate movement of plunger 30 in both directionsalong a longitudinal axis A_(P) of plunger 30.

Head 34 of plunger 30 preferably comprises a somewhat deformable,resilient member. By way of example, head 34 may be formed from siliconeor any other resilient polymer (i.e., rubber) that is suitable for usein medical applications. The shape of head 34 is preferablysubstantially complementary to a shape of the portion of receptacle 23of barrel 20 that is located within tapered region 24 and a portion ofbody 22 adjacent thereto. The size of head 34 is preferablysubstantially the same as or somewhat larger than the correspondinglyshaped portion of receptacle 23 so as to facilitate the substantialdisplacement of fluid from receptacle 23 as plunger 30 is fully insertedtherein.

Preferably, in order to facilitate movement of head 34 of plunger 30along the full length of receptacle 23, the length of plunger 30 isgreater than the combined lengths of body 22 and tapered region 24 ofbarrel 20. Of course, in order to apply the amount of force necessary tomove plunger 30 through the length of receptacle 23, body 32 of plunger30 is preferably formed from a more rigid material than that of head 34.Accordingly, head 34 preferably includes a receptacle (not shown) thatis configured to receive a corresponding head connection protrusion (notshown) at the distal end of body 32, as known in the art.

Proximal end 31 p of plunger 30 includes a handle connection element 38.Handle connection element 38 includes an aperture formed through body 32of plunger 30 at a location that facilitates the pivotal connection of amember of handle 40 thereto by way of a hinge element 70.

In addition, proximal end 31 p of plunger 30 may include a secondarymovement element 36, such as a loop or another member by which anindividual may cause plunger 30 to move in one or both directions alonglongitudinal axis A_(P) thereof.

Still referring to FIG. 1, handle 40 includes two elongate members, afirst member 50 and a second member 60. First member 50 and secondmember 60 are pivotally connected with one another in a manner that,along with the shapes of first and second members 50 and 60, providesleverage so as to decrease the amount of force that must be exerted byan individual's hand to move plunger 30 relative to barrel 20.

First member 50, which is configured to be held with an individual'sfingers, includes a gripping end 52 and a plunger attachment end 58. Inaddition, first member 50 includes pivotal connection element 56positioned at a central region 55 thereof, which is locatedsubstantially centrally along the length thereof, to facilitateconnection of first member 50 to second member 60 of handle 40. Pivotalconnection element 56 includes an aperture that has a circular shape andthat receives a hinge element 70, or pivot pin, which, in turn, connectsfirst member 50 and second member 60 to one another.

As shown, first member 50 includes an elongated loop 53 along grippingend 52, through which an individual's fingers may be inserted.Alternatively, or in addition to loop 53, gripping end 52 may include afinger grip 54 that is contoured so as to comfortably receive thefingers of an individual.

Plunger attachment end 58 includes (e.g., terminates at) a plungerconnection element 59 that facilitates the pivotal connection of firstmember 50 to the corresponding handle connection element 38 of plunger30. Plunger connection element 59 may comprise an aperture that isconfigured to receive hinge element 70. First member 50 and plunger 30are pivotally connected to one another by positioning plunger attachmentend 58 against the appropriate location of plunger 30 with plungerconnection element 59 and aperture 39 of handle connection element 38 inalignment. A single hinge element 70 is then inserted through bothplunger connection element 59 and aperture 39 of handle connectionelement 38. Hinge element 70 preferably includes an enlarged head 71 ateach end thereof to maintain the assembled, pivotal relationship ofplunger 30 and first member 50. Of course, other known types of pivotalconnection arrangements between plunger 30 and first member 50 and theircorresponding elements are also within the scope of the presentinvention.

First member 50 is bent, or angled, at some point along the lengththereof, between gripping end 52 and plunger attachment end 58, to atleast partially provide the desired amount of leverage for forcingplunger 30 to move longitudinally through receptacle 23 of barrel 20. Asshown in FIG. 1, first member 50 is angled at two locations, a first ofwhich is located between gripping end 52 and central region 55 and asecond of which is located between central region 55 and plungerattachment end 58. Although FIG. 1 depicts gripping end 52 and centralregion 55 as being oriented at an angle of about 140° relative to oneanother and central region 55 and plunger attachment end 58 as beingoriented at an angle of about 90° relative to one another, other anglesand bend locations are also within the scope of the present invention.

Still referring to FIG. 1, second member 60 of handle 40 is an elongatemember that is configured to be held by an individual's palm or thumb.Second member 60 includes a gripping end 62 and a barrel attachment end68, as well as a central region 65 located between gripping end 62 andbarrel attachment end 68.

Gripping end 62 of first member 60 may include a thumb loop 63 throughwhich the thumb of an individual using power syringe 10 may be inserted.

Central region 65 of second member 60 includes a pivotal connectionelement 66 that corresponds to pivotal connection element 56 of firstmember 50. Pivotal connection element 66 may comprise an aperture formedthrough central region 65 and configured to receive hinge element 70.Upon properly orienting first member 50 and second member 60 relative toone another in an assembled relationship thereof and aligning theaperture of first member 50 with the aperture of second member 60, hingeelement 70 may be inserted through the apertures to pivotally connectfirst and second members 50 and 60 to one another. Hinge element 70preferably includes an enlarged head 71 at each end thereof to maintainthe assembled, pivotal relationship of first member 50 and second member60.

Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 4, a variation of pivotal connectionelement 66′ may comprise an arcuate slot 67′, along the length of whichpivotal connection element 56 may move as first and second members 50and 60 are moved toward or apart from one another.

As another alternative, shown in FIG. 5, a handle 40″ of a power syringeaccording to the present invention includes another embodiment ofconnection element 56″ on central region 55″ of first member 50″ andanother, corresponding embodiment of pivotal connection element 66″ oncentral region 65″ of second member 60″. Connection element 56″, whichprotrudes from central region 55″ and is fixed in relation thereto,includes a cylindrical section 56 a″, a series of adjacent teeth 56 b″protruding from at least a portion of the curved surface of cylindricalsection 56 a″, and an enlarged retention head 56 c″ adjacent cylindricalsection 56 a″, opposite from the remainder of first member 50″. Thedistance that cylindrical section 56 a″ protrudes from central region55″ of first member 50″ is preferably slightly larger than the thicknessof second member 60″.

The corresponding pivotal connection element 66″ of second member 60″comprises an elongated slot 66 a″ with a series of adjacent teeth 66 b″protruding from at least a portion of an edge along the length of slot66 a″. Teeth 66 b″ are configured and positioned complementarily toteeth 56 b″ of connection element 56″ such that teeth 56 b″ and teeth 66b″ cooperate by mutually engaging each other upon rotation ofcylindrical section 56 a″ relative to slot 66 a″. The width of slot 66a″ is preferably slightly larger than the diameter of cylindricalsection 56 a″ of pivotal connection element 56″ so as to substantiallyprevent side-to-side movement of pivotal connection element 56″ relativeto pivotal connection element 66″. Consequently, the relative movementof pivotal connection elements 56″ and 66″ with respect to one anotheris substantially confined on the direction in which pivotal connectionelement 66″ extends, which, as illustrated, is along the length ofsecond handle 60″. Thus, when first and second handle members 50″ and60″ are forced toward one another, pivotal connection element 56″rotates relative to pivotal connection element 66″ and moves downwardthrough slot 66 a″ of pivotal connection element 66″. Conversely, whenfirst and second handle members 50″ and 60″ are forced apart from oneanother, pivotal connection element 56″ rotates and moves in theopposite direction relative to pivotal connection element 66″.

Referring again to FIG. 1, handle 40 may additionally include aresilient element (e.g., a spring) may be associated with first andsecond members 50 and 60 (e.g., at or near hinge element 70) in such away as to force first and second members 50 and 60 apart from oneanother when they are not being held together.

When first and second members 50 and 60, or variations thereof, havebeen properly assembled with one another, it is preferred thatpractically any adult user be able to properly position their fingers ongripping end 52 and their thumb or palm against gripping end 62 whilegripping ends 52 and 62 are spaced a maximum distance apart from oneanother with head 34 of plunger located at proximal end 21 p of barrel20.

Barrel attachment end 68 includes (e.g., terminates at) a barrelconnection element 69 that facilitates the pivotal connection of secondmember 60 to the corresponding handle connection element 28 of barrel20. As depicted, barrel connection element 69 comprises an aperture thatis configured to receive a hinge element 70. Second member 60 and barrel20 are pivotally connected to one another by properly positioning barrelattachment end 68 and handle connection element 28 against one another,with the apertures thereof in alignment, and inserting a single hingeelement 70 through both barrel connection element 69 and handleconnection element 28. Hinge element 70 preferably includes an enlargedhead 71 at each end thereof to maintain the assembled, pivotalrelationship of barrel 20 and second member 60. Of course, other knowntypes of pivotal connection arrangements between barrel 20 and secondmember 60 and their corresponding elements are also within the scope ofthe present invention.

Second member 60 of handle 40 may be bent, or angled, to increase theleverage provided by first member 50 and the scissor-like arrangement offirst member 50 and second member 60. As illustrated, second member 60is bent at central region 65 thereof to position gripping end 62 inproximity to gripping end 52 of first member 50 when first member 50 andsecond member 60 are in an appropriate assembled relationship.

Of course, one or both of first member 50 and second member 60 mayinclude reinforcement ribs 72 or other reinforcement structures along atleast a portion of the length thereof. As depicted, reinforcement ribs72 are positioned along the edges of first member 50 and second member60. Reinforcement ribs 72 may be positioned to prevent side-to-sidebending of first member 50 or second member 60 during use of handle 40to move plunger 30 relative to barrel 20.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate variations of power syringe 10 (FIG. 1), inwhich first member 50 and second member 60 of handle 40 are pivotallyconnected to one another, but at least one connection point between anend of a member 50, 60 of handle 40 and barrel 20 or plunger 30 does notpivot. In FIG. 6A, a connection point 61 between an end of member 60 andbarrel 20 does not pivot. In FIG. 6B, a connection point 51 between anend of member 50 and plunger 30 does not pivot. While connection points61 and 51 do not pivot, the ends of members 60 and 50 may still benonrigidly (e.g., flexibly) connected with barrel 20 and plunger 30,respectively (e.g., by way of a flexible connecting material, anintegral region of reduced thickness 59, etc.). Alternatively, at leastone connection point 61, 51 may be substantially rigid. Although FIGS.6A and 6B illustrate only a single non-pivoting connection point 61, 51,a power syringe may include two non-pivoting connection points 61, 51.

Turning to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a power syringe 110 accordingto the present invention is illustrated. Power syringe 110 includes ascissor-grip handle 40, a barrel retaining member 120 pivotally securedto a second member 60 of handle 40, and a plunger biasing member 130pivotally secured to a first member 50 of handle 40.

Barrel retaining member 120 is configured to engage and retain at leasta portion of the barrel 220 of a syringe 200. The depicted, exemplaryembodiment of barrel retaining member 120 includes a flexible, elongatemember 121 with a receptacle 124 at one end 122 thereof. Receptacle 124is configured to receive the other end 123 of elongate member 121, aswell as to facilitate the movement of a received portion of elongatemember 121 therethrough. When receiving end 123 of elongate member 121has been inserted into or through receptacle 124, barrel retainingmember 120 takes on an annular configuration, forming a barrelreceptacle 125 that may receive a portion of barrel 220 of syringe 200.As elongate member 121 moves through receptacle 124, the size of barrelreceptacle 125 changes. The position of a portion of elongate member 121extending through receptacle 124 may be maintained by way of a sizeadjustment member 126 (e.g., a screw, a spring-biased pin, etc.) thatprotrudes into receptacle 124 to engage the portion of elongate member121 therein. Elongate member 121 may also include retention recesses 127(e.g., grooves, slots, etc.) that are oriented along the length ofelongate member 121 and that are configured to receive an interior endof size adjustment member 126 so as to further maintain the position ofelongate member 121 relative to receptacle 124 and, thus, the size ofbarrel receptacle 125.

Barrel retaining member 120 also includes a handle connection element128 which extends from elongate member 121 and includes an aperture 129therethrough. Aperture 129 is sized and configured to receive a hingeelement 70 and, thus, to facilitate connection of a member of handle 40to barrel retaining member 120.

Of course, other embodiments of barrel retaining members, which may beconfigured to receive a variety of different sizes of syringes or singlesyringe sizes, are also within the scope of the present invention.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, an exemplary embodiment of plungerbiasing member 130 is configured to receive, retain, and apply force toa proximal end 231 p of a plunger 230 of syringe 200. Accordingly, theillustrated plunger biasing retaining member 130 includes a plungerreceiving portion 131 that is configured to receive and apply pressureto proximal end 231 p of plunger 230. As illustrated, plunger receivingportion 131 includes a receptacle 132 that is configured to receive atleast a portion of the disk-shaped proximal end 231 p of aconventionally configured syringe plunger 230. In addition, plungerbiasing retaining member 130 includes a slot 134 that is continuous withreceptacle 132 and that is positioned and sized to receive a portion ofat least one of the support ribs 234 of a conventionally configuredsyringe plunger 230. As depicted, proximal end 231 p is substantiallycompletely received within receptacle 132. Accordingly, slot 134 mayinclude a narrow bottom section that receives a single, verticallyoriented support rib 234 and a wider top section that receives opposed,horizontally oriented support ribs 234.

A handle connection element 138 is positioned adjacent to (beneath)plunger receiving portion 131 and includes an aperture 139 that isconfigured to receive a portion of a hinge element 70 and to pivotallyconnect plunger biasing member 130 to first member 50 of handle 40.

Handle 40 of power syringe 110 may be configured as described previouslyherein.

Examples of another embodiment of power syringe 310 according to thepresent invention are shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Power syringe 310 includesa handle 340 with two members 350 and 360 that include ends 358 and 368that are pivotally connected to one another, such as with theillustrated pivot hinge 370. As shown, pivot hinge 370 is located on anopposite side of a barrel 320 and plunger 330 of power syringe 310 thangripping ends 352 and 362 of members 350 and 360, respectively.

An intermediate portion 355 of member 350, which is the member of handle340 that is proximal relative to a user of power syringe 320, isassociated with plunger 330. As shown, member 350 may include a captureelement 356, or connection point, associated with (e.g., connected to) aproximal end 331 p of plunger 330. Capture element 356 may be pivotally(see FIG. 8) or nonpivotally secured to proximal end 331 p.Alternatively, capture element 356 may be configured to receive proximalend 331 p of plunger 330 (see FIG. 9), in which case the configuration(e.g., have dimensions, a shape, a compressible and resilient element,etc.) of capture element 356 may allow for at least some movement, or“play,” of proximal end 331 p as members 350 and 360 of handle 340 aremoved toward or away from one another.

An intermediate portion 365 of member 360, which is the member that isdistal relative to a user of power syringe 320, is associated withbarrel 320 at capture element 366. Capture element 366 receives at leasta proximal end 321 p of barrel 320, which may be in a longitudinally oraxially fixed position relative to capture element 366, or may slidethrough capture element 366. Capture element 366 may be configured(e.g., have dimensions, a shape, a compressible and resilient element,etc.) that accommodates some movement of barrel 320 relative to member360 (see FIG. 9). Alternatively, or in addition, capture element 366 maypivot (see FIG. 8) or facilitate pivoting of barrel 320 relative tomember 360 as members 350 and 360 of handle 340 are moved toward or awayfrom one another.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 9, a connection element 380 between members350 and 360 of handle 340 may include two or more pivot points 370″.Such arrangement may facilitate a more rigid connection between at leastone of member 350 and plunger 330 and member 360 and barrel 320.

While the various elements of a power syringe according to the presentinvention (e.g., power syringe 10) may be manufactured from any suitablematerial or materials, it is preferred that each of the elements of thepower syringe be formed by injection molding processes so as to affordlow manufacturing cost and, consequently, to facilitate single-use, ordisposability, of the power syringe. For the more rigid elements, which,in power syringe 10 (FIG. 1) include substantially all of the elementsthereof with the exception of head 34 of plunger 30, polycarbonates,such as LEXAN®, manufactured by General Electric, or MAKROLON®,manufactured by Miles Chemicals, may be used. Of course, other medicalgrade plastics having properties (strength, rigidity, structuralintegrity, ability to be adequately sterilized while maintaining otherdesired properties, etc.) that are suitable for the desired functions ofthe various elements of a power syringe may be used to form thoseelements. Alternatively, suitable metals, such as stainless steel, whichhave the desired properties may be used to form one or more of theelements of a power syringe that incorporates teachings of the presentinvention. These configurations are not, however, requirements, nor arethe materials or method of fabrication are not critical to any inventiveaspect disclosed herein.

Turning now to FIGS. 10-10B, an example of the use of a power catheterincorporating teachings of the present invention is illustrated.

FIG. 10 illustrates the introduction of a fluid 300 into receptacle 23of barrel 20 through either lumen 26 of syringe tip 25 (FIGS. 1 and 2)or lumen 82 of aspiration port 80 (FIG. 3) by drawing plunger 30outwardly (proximally) through receptacle 23. Plunger 30 may be drawnoutwardly through receptacle 23 by a user U forcing first and secondmembers 50 and 60 of handle 40 apart from one another. As plunger 30 isdrawn outwardly through receptacle 23, the available volume ofreceptacle 23 (i.e., that located distally relative to head 34 ofplunger 30) increases and a negative pressure is created withinreceptacle 23. This negative pressure forces fluid 300 to enterreceptacle 23. As depicted, fluid 300 is a liquid, such as a medicine,an anesthetic, a dye, or another chemical compound. Alternatively, fluid300 may comprise a gas, air, or another mixture of gases.

As shown in FIG. 10A, syringe tip 25 may be coupled to a known infusionor injection apparatus 302, shown in phantom, such as a catheter or ahypodermic needle. Infusion or injection apparatus 302 comprises aconduit which facilitates the introduction of fluid 300 into the body ofan individual.

In FIG. 10B, as user U forces first member 50 and second member 60toward one another, plunger 30 is forced inwardly (i.e., distally)through receptacle 23, decreasing the available volume within receptacle23 and creating an increase in pressure therein. This increase inpressure within receptacle 23 forces fluid 300 out of receptacle 23through lumen 26 of syringe tip 25, through infusion or injectionapparatus 302, and into the body of the individual. With valve 83 in aclosed position or orientation, fluid 300 is prevented from escapingthrough lumen 82 of aspiration port 80 as the pressure within receptacle23 is being increased. The amount of fluid introduced into theindividual's body may be controlled by controlling the distance firstand second members 50 and 60 are forced together.

Returning reference to FIG. 1, the three-pivot-point configuration ofhandle 40 provides sufficient leverage that the force applied by asingle hand of a user will be translated into an adequate amount offorce upon plunger 30 and within receptacle 23 to force even relativelyhigh viscosity fluids into and out of receptacle 23. Moreover, theconfigurations of members 50 and 60 of handle 40 facilitate grippingthereof with a single hand, the fine motor skills of which can be usedin such a way as to precisely control the amount of fluid beingintroduced into or discharged from receptacle 23 of syringe barrel 20.

Power catheters incorporating teachings of the present invention may beused in a variety of different procedures, including, withoutlimitation, injecting medicines or drugs into an individual, eitherthrough a hypodermic needle into the individual's tissues orintravenously (i.e., into a vein of an individual), introducing dyes orother indicator solutions into the bloodstream of a particular locationof individual's body (e.g., in angiography), introducing a gas, air, oranother gas mixture into an angioplasty balloon to inflate the same in aprocess which is typically referred to as percutaneous transluminalcoronary angioplasty (“PTCA”), or obtaining samples of blood, otherfluids, or tissues (e.g., with a biopsy needle or other biopsyinstrument). A power syringe according to the present invention may alsobe used to remove air or gas from such a balloon or to obtain samplesfrom the body of an individual, as well as in other applications wheresyringes have been used.

Although the foregoing description contains many specifics, these shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, butmerely as providing illustrations of some exemplary embodiments.Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which donot depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Featuresfrom different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope ofthe invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoingdescription. All additions, deletions, and modifications to theinvention, as disclosed herein, which fall within the meaning and scopeof the claims are to be embraced thereby.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A hand-held fluid delivery apparatus, comprising: asyringe comprising: a syringe barrel comprising a fluid receptacle; anda plunger disposable within the fluid receptacle of the syringe barreland moveable along a length of the barrel along a longitudinal axis; anda handle comprising: a first member comprising a first gripping end anda plunger attachment end pivotally connected directly to the plunger; asecond member comprising a second gripping end and a barrel attachmentend pivotally connected directly to the syringe barrel; and a hingepivotally connecting the first and second members of the handle at anintermediate location of each of the first and second members where thefirst and second members cross one another, the first and second membersbeing assembled with one another and with the syringe in a manner thatenables a single hand of a user to simultaneously grip both the firstand second gripping ends, wherein movement of the first and secondmembers toward one another displaces the plunger relative to the syringebarrel in a direction that reduces an available volume of the fluidreceptacle to discharge fluid from the syringe barrel.
 22. The hand-heldfluid delivery apparatus of claim 21, wherein the syringe and handle areconfigured for disposability.
 23. The hand-held fluid delivery apparatusof claim 21, wherein the first and second gripping ends each extendrelative to the hinge onto one side of a reference axis that extendsthrough the hinge and that is parallel with the longitudinal axis in aside view of the hand-held syringe, and wherein the plunger attachmentend and barrel attachment end each extend relative to the hinge onto anopposite side of the reference axis in the side view of the hand-heldsyringe.
 24. The hand-held fluid delivery apparatus of claim 21, whereinthe syringe barrel comprises a syringe tip, and wherein the hand-heldsyringe further comprises one of a catheter and a needle connected tothe syringe tip to accept a fluid discharge from the syringe barrel asthe plunger is advanced through the fluid receptacle.